When people hear about athletes taking supplements to boost their performance the immediate reaction for many is of shock and disgust; however, not all supplements should provoke these negative reactions.
While some supplements - the most famous being steroids - are illegal and in competitive sport use very immoral, others such as whey protein and creatine are natural boosts to the system that are approved by sporting governing bodies.
Many athletes nowadays take legal supplements to help gain muscle weight and repair damaged tissue more quickly. This means they can train more often and push their bodies to get a better performance.
One of the most popular supplements is whey protein. This product is made up of globular proteins isolated from whey - the liquid formed as a by-product of cheese. Whey protein comes in three main different forms - concentrate, isolate and hydroslate.
Concentrated whey protein has a low level of fat and cholesterol and is around 30-90% protein by weight. Isolates are processed to remove the fat and lactose meaning the protein weight is driven above 90%. Both of these have a mild milky taste.
Hydroslate whey protein has a bitter taste and is less allergenic than the other forms. The cost of these is generally higher but they are also more easily absorbed by the human body.
Another popular supplement is creatine. This is found naturally in some food sources, at the moment thought to be limited to meat. Beef, which is believed to be the highest source, contains 1g of
creatine in every 225g serving. As plants do not have any creatine, vegetarians tend to have a lower amount of body stored creatine and so may benefit from small creatine supplements to help boost their muscle power. Tests have also shown the supplements can boost memory and help those taking IQ tests.
Tests have so far found out that there is an upper limit to the amount of creatine a body should intake so all consumers are recommended to take consult a doctor before beginning to take the supplement or if they ever feel any side effects such as considerable muscle stiffness.
Protein and creatine help people in many ways - particularly gym-goers and sportspeople. Not only will they repair body cells, they also help build and repair muscles and bones as well as controlling many of the important bodily processes related to metabolism.
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Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
